Lion End ~ Jihad Ward ~ Illinois Fighting Illini​6051/297

Regarding Lions

Throughout the FootBall World, Defenses are undergoing Transformational, Revolutionary Change. Old Roles are getting dramatically transformed, and virtually every Front 7 ~ or Front 6!! ~ Defensive Job Description is transitioning into an Hybrid Role where the Defender is asked to excel in multiple Roles and in multiple Fronts.

For that reason, and in order to offer NomenClature that speaks not to archaic, obsolete "Positions", but rather to Skill Sets that accurately reflect the dynamic Changes of the 21st Century Game and the Roles they have spawned, I have undertaken to craft Terminology that is designed to break Skill Sets down as they really are.

Defensive Coordinators have, since Time Immemorial, employed highly creative terminology in devising Defenses and in designating Assignments. In that Spirit, I have admittedly indulged myself considerably in devising the following NomenClature. It is undeniably colorful, but I like to think that there's an underlying Logic, as well:

Lions ~ This is my term for Defensive Linemen with the Size of a smaller and faster Defensive Tackle and the WingSpan of a Defensive End. Like the Grizzlies, they can line up at End in a 34 or at Tackle in a 43, or just about anywhere in either Formation, and conceivably play either 1 Gap or 2 Gap. The Prototype would be about 6050/300 or less.

Of course, where and how any given Coach chooses to deploy his Players is his Business. Players that I characterize as Lions may often or even routinely line up anywhere, on any given Down. My only purpose is simply to identify what I perceive as Skill Sets, to distinguish types, if you will, and perhaps create a universal Point of Reference.

When evaluating Lions, this is how I break down the Attributes to which I pay most particular attention:

Power: Above all: Core Power. Torso Power is important, but Core Power, from the Knees to the Ribs, is absolutely crucial. All the upper body strength in the world still fails if you can't dig in your heels. But Core Power enables a Defensive Lineman to project Power in the Passing Game and to reject Power in the Running Game.

Agility: Launch Velocity, Acceleration, and above all: Fluidity or Core Agility. Core Agility is even more essential to sustained good Health ~ and to sustained good FootBall ~ than Core Power. The ability to react with Serpentine smoothness is a tremendous asset in all Aspects of the Game, and certainly in the Hand to Hand Combat that characterizes Trench Warfare. All the Power in the World goes only so far if you're stiff and lumbering out there.

Intangibles:Processing Speed and Motor. Processing Speed or Diagnostic Velocity is about how quickly and effectively one Reads & Reacts to how the Rapidly Roiling Tactical LandScape effects Blocking Schemes, and Motor is about Endurance and Drive: How much Work has been put into Conditioning, and how it manifests itself.

Power: Exceptional. Moderate Torso Power but excellent Core Power, a refreshing change from the usual practice of most Prospects, who focus far too much on the upper body. Mediocre Drive Power but terrific Anchoring Strength.

Combat Skills: Moderate but with tremendous Potential. Ward's Mechanics are still raw, and he has a marginal Pass Rush Repertoire, but his Hands are incredibly active, and his WingSpan is exceptional.

Intangibles: Impressive, and potentially outstanding. Ward's Field Vision is marginal, but I make Allowances for that, as he's only been playing FootBall since 10th Grade, and didn't switch from Safety to Defensive End until he was a Senior!! His Motor is tremendous, and I have every faith that he will, in time, develop the Field Vision he'll need.

Run Defense: Exceptional and potentially outstanding at The Point of Attack, as he develops his Combat Skills and Field Vision in the Years to come, and while he lacks the Speed to become dominant in Pursuit or Attacking the BackField, I believe that if he develops his Combat Skills and Field Vision, he's got the Motor and the Fluidity to succeed.

Pass Rush: He hasn't done much at all, here, and seems generally to be lacking in much Potential, but I believe that the Potential is most definitely there: Power, Fluidity, and WingSpan equal Pass Rush Potential.​

Jihad Ward Prospectus

Jihad Ward is one'f my favorite kinds of Prospects: a late arrival on the GridIron ~ he joined the Field of Battle in 10th Grade and didn't convert to the Defensive Line until he was a Senior!! ~ Ward's insufficient Grades forced him to exacerbate his Liability by journeying the Junior College Route, and he consequently comes to us extremely raw.

Such Prospects often go far later than they ought ~ at least in my opinion ~ thus allowing me to cackle with glee as I craft a Scouting Report extolling said Prospect's Virtues while sneering gleefully at the cowardly NFL Front Offices.

Alas, the Raiders snatched'm at #44 ~ yeah, I peeked.

The Bastards.

Even so, I proceed with Pleasure...

Another thing I love about Ward is that he posted a marginal 40 Time and a lousy Vertical Leap, thus flopping both with the traditional idiotic perceptions of Athleticism and the more modern SPARQ Score.

I myself value the Vertical Leap as a Measure, but prefer the Tape.

Prospects like Ward are more challenging to project, precisely because the prospective Arc of Ascent is far steeper for them than that of most Prospects, who, having played their Position ~ or a near approximate of it ~ since Grade School, are far closer to being what they might potentially become than guys who just took it up a few Years ago.

Even so, I love to write them up, as I am a Speculator at heart. And Jihad Ward brings exceptional Power, tremendous Fluidity, and impressive WingSpan, and a tremendous Motor to the Field of Battle.

"Trajectory > A mercurial Formula that blends Talent, Speed of Improvement, and the Probability of continuing that Speed of Improvement, based on perceived Intelligence, Passion, and Work Ethic: Talent x Intelligence x Drive."

Ward had to go the Junior College Route because of Grades, mind you, but he certainly appears quite intellectually quick and acute during his Interviews, he's got lots of Talent, and his Motor is relentless.

I've read nonsense about his alleged lack of Killer Instinct or Fire...Give me a guy who plays his Ass off on every Snap over a guy whose Motor is adequate but who frequently gets nasty or even ugly every day of the Week.

And especially on Sundays.

Ward's got the Heart of a Lion...And that's why he doesn't need to prove it.

He's got Work to do, but I have very strong Confidence that he'll do it. It may very well take him a bit longer to develop his full Potential, but that Potential is tremendous not only as a Run Defender, but equally so, I believe, as a Pass Rusher.

Time isn't truly Money, but it's certainly intensely valuable, especially in a League constraining itself with The Infernal Salary Cap, so there is a very real Cost, considering the Bargain Values that most Rookie Contracts constitute, to drafting a guy like Ward who might very well take longer to develop to his full capacity than a similar Talent might.

But there is also considerable additional Value to drafting a guy with a disproportionately large Probability of Success, even though it might take longer to attain, and that, too, I believe Ward brings to the table.

I believe that the Raiders made a commendable Decision.

Grateful Thanks, as always, for the crucial Work done by the folks at Draft BreakDown!!​​​​​​

Yank Rank: Beast ~ Par Value

Market Value

#44

Yankee Grade

1st/2nd Round

Please do Note: This and all Evaluations issued by this Site are produced by a ludicrously unqualified Amateur, privy to not even the tiniest fraction of Coach's Tape, Scouting Expertise, Face to Face Interviewing, Experience, or Inside Information enjoyed by the Professionals. As such, anything put forth is certainly misinformed, euphonious, derivative Tripe, and should be rejected out'f hand and indeed shunned by all men and women of Good Will!! I'm trying to discern Power, Agility, Combat Skills, and far more abstract, esoteric Concepts such as Processing Speed and Motor, and I'm trying to do so based almost entirely on a fascinating fusion of Tape, Combine Numbers, and Pro Days, while trying to attenuate my findings based on Allowances for Competition Level, Scheme, Concept, Context, and, above all: Trajectory!!

None of this is even remotely a Complaint, mind you, but rather a Warning!! Caveat Emptor!